Diaconate candidates have canonical retreat

Friday, Oct. 14, 2016

By Fr. Eleazar Silva

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

MIDWAY — At a lodge in Midway, 15 candidates in the diaconate formation program, and their wives, participated in a canonical retreat as a required part of their journey toward ordination. 

The men are scheduled to be ordained Jan. 27 in the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

The retreat, sponsored by the Diocese of Salt Lake City, was led by Monsignor Alejandro Tinoco Martinez, episcopal vicar of the Archdiocese of Papantla, Mexico. It took place Sept. 28-Oct. 2 and was based on kerygma content, focusing first on the announcement of the faith in light of Mark’s Gospel. 

Fr. Alejandro, as he prefers to be called, led the retreatants in reflection and a prayer journey  through the attitudes, words and deeds of Christ. Using lectio divina, he explained the connections between of Jesus’ life and preaching, which are applicable to the diaconate ministry in which the candidates are about to be ordained.

During the liturgy, Fr. Alejandro and the team received the solemn profession of faith of the candidates. This happened during a ceremony of light, an ancient tradition of the Church, in which the wives were asked to support their husbands in their faith and in the demands they are about to undertake. 

During Saturday’s Mass the oath of freedom and obedience was signed and recorded; this oath ties the men to the diaconate.

The diocese is asked to pray for these diaconate candidates.